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The Department of Homeland Security released two memos recently regarding border and interior enforcement policies. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) drafted summaries of the two memos, which you can find at the links below.

Jennifer recently hosted a community meeting at Bridges High School. Aspen Public Radio did a segment on the meeting, which you can listen to here. Bottom line is KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! You can pick up a Know Your Rights card at our office during regular business hours, 9:00 to 5:00.

TO REPORT RECENT ICE ACTIVITY OR POLICE/ICE COLLABORATION, PLEASE CALL CIRC’s HOTLINE at 844-864-8341. Leave a message with your name, city/town where you live, phone number, and brief summary of the story. Someone will be in touch with you within 5 business days. CIRC DOES NOT HAVE ATTORNEYS ON THE HOTLINE AND CANNOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE.

TU VOZ ES EL PODER, COLORADO TE ESCUCHA (Your Voice is Power, Colorado is Listening) is a project to collect stories of recent police/ICE collaborations and ICE activities in order to monitor what ICE is doing, see how new policies are impacting communities & their trust in the police, and gather evidence to support long term policy changes that further limit collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE.

CIRC’s ICE incident hotline – 844-864-8341 – is coordinated by a statewide network of volunteers trained to document testimonies of ICE/police interactions and to support individuals to navigate and fight their own deportation cases. If you would like to become a documenter, please contact Sophia Clark at sophia@coloradoimmigrant.org.

Our office is currently suing the government regarding a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request. In this case, the government is withholding a file because it may assist the foreign national in defending herself against deportation. You can read more about the lawsuit at the link below.

As faith leaders and congregations of the Roaring Fork Valley, we stand together in affirming our solidarity with our immigrant congregants, neighbors and community members. Immigrants have always faced many challenges, and we recognize increased anxiety and fear among our immigrant sisters and brothers because of a recent rise in strong anti-immigrant sentiments and threats of mass deportations. We affirm our vigilance around the issues facing our immigrant neighbors. In solidarity with our immigrant families and other allies we are working to develop an action plan that includes:

Solidarity

We call on our counties, cities, towns and schools to support our immigrant families. We support local law enforcement and school officials in doing their jobs- protecting public safety and teaching our children- rather than detaining and deporting immigrants.

We are committed to working with a wide variety of community partners, from those who work with immigrant families to those who employ immigrants, so we can listen to and support our immigrant families as valuable members of our community. Examples of these community partners include: Access AfterSchool, Aspen Skiing Company, Aspen Community Foundation, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Family Resource Center of the Roaring Fork School District, Roaring Fork PreCollegiate, Smith Immigration, Summit 54, The Manaus Fund and Valley Settlement.

We are proud that the state of Colorado is one of the safest states for immigrants to settle in. In Colorado, immigrants are afforded the right to hold a driver’s license and go to college without regard to their legal status.

Sanctuary

As representatives of religious institutions with unique resources and deep moral values, we will explore the creation of one or more sanctuaries here in the Roaring Fork Valley. We aim to do so in advance of any changes in federal law or ICE enforcement priorities so our immigrant families don’t have to live in a constant state of fear and uncertainty.

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Washington, D.C.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national association of more than 13,500 immigration lawyers and law professors established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice and enhance the professional development of its members. Continue reading “Super Lawyers Pro Bono Awards 2014”→

AILA is pleased to announce the most recent recipients of the “Pro Bono Heroes” quarterly awards. For the Third Quarter of 2014, the AILA National Pro Bono Services Committee decided to take a break from the regular nomination criteria in order to recognize a special group of individuals whom we have affectionately named the “Artesia First Responders.” Continue reading “AILA Announces Pro Bono Heroes Honorees 3Q (2014)”→

About a dozen immigration attorneys from Colorado, Nevada, New York and Minnesota arrived in Artesia over the past week to fill what they say is gap in access to legal aid. The oil and gas town in southeastern New Mexico lies more than three hours from the urban centers of Albuquerque and El Paso, where most immigration attorneys in the region practice. Continue reading “Lawyers Volunteer to Aid Artesia Detainees”→

Are currently residing in the United States at the time of application to USCIS

Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012

Are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States

Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety

Please contact us for more information about the procedure: 970-945-5111